Draft:Bollate Prison

File:Murales in the Bollate Prison.jpgSince 2000, the institution has operated under an attenuated custody regime for common detainees, as outlined in Article 115 of the Italian Penitentiary Regulations. This article is designed to allow for a broader range of rehabilitative activities and greater opportunities for the detainees' personal responsibility and social reintegration.

The structure was designed in 1987, and opened in 2000.{{Cite web |date=19 September 2009 |title=Il carcere di Milano-Bollate |url=https://www.redattoresociale.it/article/il_carcere_di_milano-bollate}} Bollate Prison had two inaugurations, the first was in December 2000, led by the Justice Minister Piero Fassino and a second in 2001, led by the Minister successor, Roberto Castelli.{{Cite web |last=Feyen |first=Nancy |date=5 November 2009 |title=Carcere di Bollate |url=https://theamericanmag.com/carcere-di-bollate/ |website=The American In Italia}}

From 2011 until 2018 Massimo Parisi was the director of the prison and Cosima Buccoliero was appointed as vice-director.

Buccoliero was a critic of the concept of a “penalty without end", which restricts benefits related to some life sentences such as sentence reductions and temporary release. At Bollate prison Buccoliero introduced changes in the treatment of inmates sentenced to Ergastolo (LWOP - Life Imprisonment Without Parole), including assigning single rooms to life prisoners, promoting respect and dialogue between staff and prisoners, and by providing work opportunities, education, and personal growth programs for life prisoners.{{Cite web |title=Senza sbarre, Cosima Buccoliero, Serena Uccello. Giulio Einaudi editore |url=https://www.einaudi.it/catalogo-libri/problemi-contemporanei/senza-sbarre-cosima-buccoliero-9788806252793/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Einaudi |language=it-IT}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=FuyUlwkK97M |title=Cosima Buccoliero e Serena Uccello {{!}} Senza sbarre (Einaudi) |date=2022-06-17 |last=Fondazione Circolo dei lettori |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}

In 2014 Bollate prison was one of several Italian prisons affected by hunger strike protests with participation by 2.3% of the inmates. Other nearby prisons had higher protest percentages: Milano San Vittore (7.3%), Milano Opera (7.4%), Monza (3.0%), and Busto Arsizio (5.4%). The comparatively low protest figure at Bollate prison has been associated with different conditions and approaches to inmate grievances compared to other prisons in the region.{{cite thesis |last1=Mastrobuoni |first1=Giovanni |title=Rehabilitating rehabilitation: Prison conditions and recidivism. |access-date=11 November 2024 |publisher=Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance EIEF Working Papers Series 1413 |url=https://conference.iza.org/conference_files/riskonomics2015/mastrobuoni_g3754.pdf |last2=Terlizzese |first2=Daniele |website=}}

In 2023, prison officials including a chief assistant, a chief superintendent and an inspector were attacked by an inmate inside the prison. Other incidents occurred in which inmates made death threats against officers. This resulted in calls by trade unions for protective measures for prison staff and from Riccardo De Corato, a member of the Fratelli d'Italia party, who announced plans to submit a parliamentary question to Justice Minister Carlo Nordio to address ongoing issues faced by prison officers.{{cite news |last1=Liguori |first1=Arnaldo |date=13 November 2023 |title=Tre agenti aggrediti nel carcere di Bollate: 'Subito provvedimenti' |url=https://www.ilgiorno.it/milano/cronaca/tre-agenti-aggrediti-nel-carcere-di-bollate-subito-provvedimenti-3976f37b?live |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=Il Giorno |language=it}} On the night of June 22nd to 23rd, 2024, Cristian Filippo Braidich escaped from Bollate Prison.{{Cite news |last=Ciotti |first=Lucrezia |date=2024-06-24 |title=Escape from Bollate prison: who is the escaping prisoner |url=https://www.notizie.it/en/escape-from-prison-by-stamped-who-is-the-prisoner-on-the-run/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Notizie.it |language=en}}

Bollate prison population consists of three main groups: detainees, police officers and operators. Among the detainees, there is subcategory of inmates imprisoned for life, who receive a different treatment compared to other prisons.

Inmates at Bollate Prison are differentiated from most other penal institutions in that they have all requested to be transferred from other correctional facilities. Their admission is contingent upon their ability to gain from the progressive programs offered at the prison. They are required to consent to specific terms and conditions of incarceration, which included sharing close living quarters with sex offenders. The number of inmates is typically between 1200 and 1250.

Bollate Prison employs 400 prison staff, 160 below the target in the staffing plan. The detainees do not know the names of the staff, to acquire the philosophy of equality. Officers are all addressed by the same title of "assistente" (assistant).

This category of prison staff includes a range of functions and jobs, including: Professionals in charge of educational activities in the prison; Civil employees that are in charge of bureaucratic and logistical tasks; Doctors and Paramedics (approximately 50) that collaborate in the ER; Accredited Volunteers who are trained to provide support to some departments; Occasional Visitors that enter the facility for a specific period of time for specific events or activities.

The inmate population has a gender disparity, with a predominance of male inmates.

Bollate Prison includes recreational facilities, including sports fields and a multi-purpose hall that can accommodate 800 people for various activities, including religious ceremonies, theatre productions, and athletics. The facility includes multiple kitchens and workshops designed to support work-based rehabilitation programs for inmates. From 2017, a nursery facility has been available for the children of employees, local families and female inmates.{{Cite web |title=Milano Bollate Prison For The Execution Of Sentences |url=https://www.europris.org/establishment/milano-bollate-prison-for-the-execution-of-sentences/ |access-date=20 November 2024 |website=Europis}}

The prison has various facilities, including visiting rooms that also allow visits from spouses.The prison also offers space for physical activity, with both indoor and outdoor areas available.

There are various cells, including single cells, double cells and multi-bed cells. Some cells are equipped with a shower. Prisoners also have access to various facilities in their cells, including a fridge, coffee machine and radio.

File:Library in the Bollate Prison.jpgThe remainder of the facility is divided into eight wards, in four-story buildings. Each ward has various social rooms and dedicated areas equipped with kitchen facilities. There are spaces for religious practices, gyms, a library and concrete yards where inmates can play tennis, soccer, or volleyball. The fourth ward contains a library with several study rooms.
The wards also contain areas for cultural activities such as editorial meetings for the newspaper written by inmates, called Carte Bollate.

The Technical Secretariat Office coordinates the roles of prison officers and educators in the prison. The prison police assist in maintaining observation records and managing external work programs.

Educators are assigned to specific departments (detention units) and are responsible for tracking the observation and treatment pathways of inmates, in addition to engaging in various cross-departmental activities within the institution. They meet inmates upon their arrival, collaborate with their team to observe the personality of the convicted individuals, and develop a treatment program following the observation period, which is reviewed by the "Magistrato di Sorveglianza" (Parole Board). This treatment program includes a pathway, agreed upon with the inmate, that encompasses activities (both internal and external) aimed at helping their reintegration into society. They are available outside scheduled work times to meet with inmates returning from external work or semi-liberty, as well as during evening events. On request, they can also hold meetings with the family members and legal representatives of inmates to discuss matters related to their rehabilitation.

Their tasks are regulated by [https://www.giustizia.it/giustizia/it/mg_1_12_1.wp?contentId=SPS1181143# penitentiary law] with two primary goals: to enhance the quality of the punishment (i.e., to humanise it) and to improve its effectiveness, which is closely associated with the rehabilitative objectives defined by the Constitution.

This area includes various educational support roles from the non-profit sector that provide assistance in educational support and reintegration efforts for inmates, primarily funded through projects supported by local authorities.

The prison provides opportunities for the rehabilitation and personal development of prisoners. Employment, educational and recreational initiatives are used with the aims of developing inmates' skills, promoting their social reintegration and improving their physical and mental well-being. Initiatives include specialised training in catering, gardening and carpentry, as well as sports and cultural activities.

Bollate Prison practices in maintaining inmates contact with the outside world, such as regular phone calls, video calls, and accessible family visits. Phone calls are allowed to almost all prisoners, their frequency and duration depending on the behaviour of the prisoner. Prisoners also have access to video calls, which can be used to arrange prison visits. Video calls became more popular after the Covid-19 pandemic, when personal meetings were limited.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=Seconda casa di reclusione Milano – Bollate |url=https://www.antigone.it/osservatorio_detenzione/lombardia/11-seconda-casa-di-reclusione-milano-bollate |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Antigone |publisher=Antigone Association - Detention Observatory |language=it}}

The Little Red House was built in the prison garden area by inmates and students from Polytechnic University of Milan. It was designed as a comfortable and safe play area for children visiting family members.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-08 |title=The A Little Red House at Bollate Prison |url=https://www.matrix4design.com/en/architecture/a-little-red-house-at-bollate-prison/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=matrix4design.com |publisher=Editrice Industriale |language=en}}

File:In Galera.jpg

Bollate Prison contains Italy's first and only public restaurant located inside a prison. The [https://www.ingalera.it/ InGalera] restaurant was established to provide prisoners with professional training and employment skills. It was opened in 2015, inaugerated by PwC Italy with the support of various business units in collaboration with ABC Catering and Bollate Prison. The inauguration event was covered by the New York Times and other publications.{{Cite web |title=PwC helps to tackle the issue of re-offending |url=https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/about/corporate-sustainability/our-stories/pwc-helps-to-tackle-the-issue-of-re-offending.html |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=PwC}}

Staff consists of the prison inmates working under the guidance of an expert chef and maître d'hôtel. Detainees have the opportunity to learn and practice the skills of preparing and serving cuisine. Collaboration with the Paolo Frisi Hotel School allows inmates to complete the required practical training for hospitality diplomas in the restaurant.InGalera served 5,040 dinners and 2,970 lunches in the first five months, exceeding profit expectations. The restaurant has been featured in both the Michelin Guide and the Gambero Rosso publication.{{Cite web |last=InGalera |title=The restaurant of Italy's most starred prison |url=https://www.ingalera.it/en/index.html |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=ingalera.it}}

File:Gym inside the Bollate prison.jpg

Bollate Prison has one of the first athletics track inside a prison. Constructed with inmate participation, it was designed to transform traditional prison exercise yards into spaces more conducive to group activities and aerobic exercise. Concrete walls were removed to create open spaces intended to encourage physical activity and social interaction.

The construction was initiated by the Polytechnic University of Milan, with support from sports professionals, prison administration, and funding provided by the Polisocial award and contributions from private enterprises. The architect was Andrea Di Franco.

In addition to the athletics track, new facilities for basketball, volleyball, and a dispersed gym accessible throughout the prison were also developed.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Manuela |date=2022-06-15 |title=A Bollate la prima pista di atletica per i detenuti in un carcere |url=https://www.agi.it/cronaca/news/2022-06-15/bollate-prima-pista-atletica-carcere-detenuti-17111008/amp/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=AGI Agenzi Italia |publisher=Agi - Agenzia Giornalistica Italia |language=it}}

The theatre program at Bollate Prison was established in the early 2000s by director and choreographer Michelina Capato to introduce dance theatre as a medium for inmates to express themselves, challenge societal prejudices and pursue personal and professional development. Productions incorporate social issues, such as bullying and youth distress, in direction, set design, and performances managed by the inmates. In 2024 the theatre company is run by Christian and Stefano Pozzato.{{Cite web |last=Ribold |first=Sara |date=2023-09-05 |title=Teatro danza al carcere di Milano – Bollate: quando l'arte dona un nuova possibilità |url=https://startupitalia.eu/impact/social-innovation/teatro-danza-al-carcere-di-milano-bollate-quando-larte-dona-un-nuova-possibilita/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=StartupItalia |language=it-IT}}

In 2019, the Fuori Cinema project was developed in partnership with Cinema Anteo. The project created a cinema-theater space for inmates, open to the public.

The Prison Art Association was founded in 2021 by inmates at Bollate Prison during COVID-19 pandemic. The association continues to support the prison's theatrical activities.

An equine-assisted rehabilitation program was run at Bollate prison from 2007 until 2021. The program was run in collaboration with psychologists and veterinarians from the University of Milan, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Policlinico of Milan, the SerT of Bollate prison (Servizio per le Tossicodipendenze, Service for Drug Addiction), and the volunteer Asom association. The stables were managed by Asom and housed 40 horses, many of them rescued from abuse or neglect.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-07 |title=Bollate, sfratto per la scuderia del carcere: "Ha aiutato molti detenuti" |url=https://www.ilgiorno.it/milano/cronaca/bollate-carcere-cavalli-scuderia-sfratto-71f65eeb?live |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Il Giorno |language=it}} Inmates participated in activities involving farriery courses. According to Professor Emanuela Prato Previde, the interaction with horses demonstrated improvements in empathy and emotional regulation, elements in reducing violent behaviour.{{Cite web |last=D’Amico |first=Paola |date=18 October 2017 |title=Milano, i cavalli e la prova dell'empatia in carcere a Bollate |url=https://milano.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/17_ottobre_18/milano-cavalli-prova-dell-empatia-carcere-bollate-910d05ca-b3d1-11e7-b73f-b517701f3ad7.shtml |access-date=22 November 2024 |website=Corriere Milano |language=it}}

The stables were shut down in 2021 due to structural safety concerns, as cited by the prison administration.

The carpentry workshop at Bollate Prison provides detainees with the opportunity to acquire professional skills in woodworking, producing furniture for external clients and creating theatrical sets.{{Cite web |title=Nel carcere di Bollate non si perde la dignità |url=https://www.fondazioneveronesi.it/magazine/articoli/altre-news/carcere-di-bollate-dove-il-detenuto-non-perde-la-sua-dignita |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Fondazione Veronesi Magazine |publisher=Fondazione Umberto Veronesi |language=it}}
In 2020, during the COVID-19 health emergency, the workshop was temporarily converted into a laboratory for producing surgical masks.{{Cite web |title=Le mascherine per gli italiani prodotte nel carcere di Bollate dove "lavorano" Stasi, Parolisi e Bossetti |url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/cronaca/le-mascherine-per-gli-italiani-prodotte-nel-carcere-di-bollate-dove-lavorano-stasi-parolisi-e-bossetti_18776874-202002a.shtml |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=TGCom24 |publisher=TI S.p.A. Business Digital |language=it-IT}}

File:Bollate Prison's nursery.jpg File:Coop. Cascina Bollate.jpg

The Cascina Bollate Plant Nursery was established within Bollate Prison by Susanna Magistretti. Professionals collaborate with detainees, offering them the chance to learn gardening as a practical trade. The nursery specialises in cultivating perennial herbaceous plants, including ornamental grasses, a selection of annual and heirloom roses and a variety of unique but easy-to-grow plants. It also cultivates several climbing plants such as different honeysuckles (including shrub species like Lonicera maackii and Lonicera tatarica), as well as Clematis mandshurica, Campsis grandiflora,and Bignonia capreolata. The nursery includes a range of daisies and other Asteraceae varieties, such as Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium, C. maximum “Silver Princess”, Echinacea pallida, and E. paradoxa.

The nursery operates across two large greenhouses and approximately 2.5 acres of land situated within the prison grounds. Access to Cascina Bollate is restricted and can only be gained through organised visits, on designated public open days (Wednesdays and Fridays), or during gardening courses. It includes a shop for visitors and an educational garden. An online catalog is available, where all products grown at the nursery can be purchased.{{Cite web |title=Cooperativa sociale Cascina Bollate |url=https://luoghi.italianbotanicalheritage.com/en/cooperativa-sociale-cascina-bollate/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Luoghi - Italian Botanical Heritage |publisher=Italian Botanical Trips}}

File:The nursery.jpg

The Biobab Nursery School is an educational institution adjacent to Bollate Prison. The program addresses the needs of families associated with the prison environment while integrating people from various socio-economic backgrounds. It provides pre-schooling for children whose parents are prisoners at Bollate Prison, children of prison employees, and children from the local residential neighbourhood.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-08 |title=Biobab Nursery School |url=http://baobab.ac.tz/pre-primary-school-2/# |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=baobab.ac.tz |publisher=Baobab Schools |language=en}}

The main objective of the prison is rehabilitation and reinsertion of the detainees in the community following Cesare Beccaria's ideals{{cite book |last1=Daems |first1=Tom |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=62Y9DwAAQBAJ |title=Europe in Prisons Assessing the Impact of European Institutions on National Prison Systems |last2=Robert |first2=Luc |date=6 November 2017 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-319-87270-4 |edition=1st |pages=89 |access-date=5 November 2024}}{{Cite book |last=Beken |first=Tom Vander |title=The Role of Prison in Europe |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=9783319293882 |publication-date=25 August 2016 |pages=169 |language=English}} and the principles outlined in [https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:presidente.repubblica:decreto:2000;230~art115-com1#:~:text=Art.,115&text=1.,eventuali%20esigenze%20di%20carattere%20generale. Article 115] of the Penitentiary Regulations.{{cite book |last1=Vessella |first1=Luigi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SIgUDAAAQBAJ |title=L'architettura del carcere a custodia attenuata. Criteri di progettazione per un nuovo modello di struttura penitenziaria |date=28 Apr 2016 |publisher=Franco Angeli Edizioni |isbn=9788891738004 |location=Milano, Italy |page=154 |language=it |access-date=11 November 2024}}

File:Prison interior.jpg Bollate Prison is classified by criminal justice experts as an Open Prison. Inmates in Bollate can spend from 10 to 12 hours a day outside their cells. In most other prisons, inmates are only allowed to spend about 4 hours outside their cells, which is the minimum required by law.{{Cite book |last=Pagano |first=Luigi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qMnxzQEACAAJ |title=Il direttore. Quarant'anni di lavoro in carcere |publisher=Zolfo |year=2020 |isbn=9788832206098 |language=it}} This is possible through the use of electronic badges that permit the prisoners to move freely within the facility, enabling access to their work or educational programs. There are certain groups of inmates whose supervision is not continuous, as they have established a trust-based relationship with the prison administration. These groups are not always under constant watch, and prison guards do not always maintain fixed posts. This approach is referred to as 'dynamic supervision'.{{cite news |last=Del Corno |first=Chiara |date=14 July 2024 |title=Perché il carcere di Bollate è per molti versi un modello |url=https://www.ilpost.it/2024/07/14/perche-carcere-bollate-modello/ |website=Il Post |language=it}} The approach developed in the prison has been described as the Bollate Model by criminal justice experts.{{cite book |last1=Chiola |first1=Giovanni |title=Il sistema carcerario italiano |date=11 June 2020 |publisher=Giappichelli |isbn=9788892188181 |pages=222 |language=Italian}}

The impact of Bollate Prison's progressive approach to incarceration is reflected in its low recidivism rate: ranked among the lowest in Italy. A 2014 study revealed that just 20 percent of those released from the prison are re-convicted within five years, while the national average is 70 percent.{{Cite book |last=Amrahs |first=Hseham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lg_tEAAAQBAJ |title=Tales of the World's Most Dangerous Prisons |publisher=Mahesh Dutt Sharma |publication-date=10 January 2024}}

Detainees engage in employment or education activities, including opportunities to pursue secondary education, learn English, or computer skills. Vocational training includes courses in carpentry, electrical work, cooking, and welding. Inmates have the opportunity to join various agricultural and service cooperatives, both within and outside the prison.{{cite web |last1=Giovanni |first1=Mastrobuoni |last2=Daniele |first2=Terlizzese |title=Rehabilitation and Recidivism: Evidence from an Open Prison |url=http://www.antoniocasella.eu/nume/Mastrobuoni_Terlizzese_bollate_oct14.pdf |access-date=5 November 2024}}

In 2003 a course was held and funded by Cisco for inmates interested in work on local area networks that run Cisco Systems Inc. hardware.{{Cite news |last=Sylvers |first=Eric |date=6 June 2003 |title=Italian inmates receive training in a Cisco computer program : Behind bars but learning to network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/06/business/worldbusiness/IHT-italian-inmates-receive-training-in-a-cisco.html |work=The New York Times}}

Formal agreements have been established to facilitate the university education of inmates, in collaboration with the University of Milan-Bicocca, the University of Milan (Statale), and Cattolica. A staff member oversees the administrative processes related to inmate enrolment, providing assistance with course materials and exam texts, as well as coordinating the scheduling and administration of exams.{{cite web |last=Casa di Reclusione Milano Bollate |title=L'Istruzione |website=Casa di Reclusione Milano Bollate istituto |url=https://www.carcerebollate.com/listruzione/}}

The Clinica Legale at Bocconi University offers a program for law students to apply their legal knowledge in a real-world setting, particularly in the Bollate and San Vittore prisons. The program provides legal support for the inmates and encourages students to engage with issues of social justice, reintegration, and prison reform.{{cite web |last1=Masotti |first1=Pietro |title=Didattica Carceri In carcere per supportare i detenuti |url=https://www.unibocconi.it/it/news/carcere-supportare-i-detenuti |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Unibocconi.it |date=20 February 2024 |publisher=Università Bocconi |language=it}}

A large number of inmates are allowed to work outside the prison in accordance with Article 21 of the Italian Penitentiary System. On average, approximately 200 inmates participate in external employment opportunities.{{Cite book |last=Mastrobuoni |first=Giovanni |url=https://www.eief.it/eief/images/WP_21.11.pdf |title=Leave the Door Open? Prison Conditions and Recidivism |year=2021 |pages=6 |language=English}}

This initiative is made possible through partnerships with various companies, formal agreements, and work grants provided by local municipalities or regional authorities. These efforts are managed by CELAV (Centro di Mediazione al Lavoro) and the AEI Cooperative, in collaboration with individual projects aimed at social reintegration. The institute also partners with the Seconda Chance project.{{Cite web |publisher=Casa di Reclusione Milano Bollato |title=Lavoro |url=https://www.carcerebollate.com/lavoro-2/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |language=it-IT}}

The 21 21 Project is aimed at helping detainees secure meaningful employment contracts following their training courses, as outlined by Roberto Bezzi, an educator within the prison.

The project commenced in August 2024 and began with a select group of 12 detainees. Among the notable inmates participating in this initiative was Massimo Bossetti, who was involved in redeveloping a section of the prison that was formerly used for face mask production, transforming it into a specialised workshop, and including a toilet facility for their convenience.

This employment opportunity, part of the broader 21 21 project, offers financial compensation and aims to reinstate a sense of social dignity for the inmates involved.{{Cite episode |title= Puntata del 29 novembre |url=https://mediasetinfinity.mediaset.it/video/quartogrado/puntata-del-29-novembre_F313481101001201 |access-date=2024-11-29 |series= Quarto Grado |language= italian}}

File:Redazione cartebollate.jpgCarteBollate is a newspaper created, written and financed by the inmates of the prison. The publication is an independent newspaper, duly registered with the court in Milan. The primary aim of the newspaper is to offer a new perspective on life in prison and to bridge the gap between the outside world and the inmates. The project was initiated by inmates and began in 2002 with the initial support of the Cuminetti Association as the publisher. The organisation Associazione Amici di CarteBollate then took over the editorship.La comunità penitenziaria di Bolate The project was expanded in 2011 through collaboration with The Lombardy Journalists' Association and the prison's legal department to include training seminars on the portrayal of prisons in the media, aimed at journalism students and professionals. This initiative, supported by the Lombardy Prison Service, aims to establish ethical guidelines for fair and accurate reporting on prisons and crime.{{Cite web |last=Tisminetzky |first=Tamara |title=Il Nuovo Carte Bollate |url=https://www.assemblea.emr.it/europedirect/pace-e-diritti/diritti-in-video/microfono-della-pace/2012/informare-dentro-e-fuori-dal-carcere/documentazione-allegata/il-nuovo-carte-bollate/at_download/file |access-date=11 November 2024 |language=it}}

The editorial team consists of 25 people, including prisoners, volunteers professional journalists and communication experts. The newspaper is published every two months with a circulation of 1,200 copies. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper is Susanna Ripamonti and the graphic design is the responsibility of art director Federica Neeff.{{Cite web |title=Chi Siamo |url=https://www.cartebollate.com/chi-siamo |access-date=17 November 2024 |website=Cartebollate |language=it}}

The Bollate Prison 'Living Library' project is a visitor listening program in which visitors listen to prisoners. The project is framed with the prisoners as “living books” and visitors the “readers”. Visitors listen to the inmates' stories, ask questions, and engage in dialogue. The aim is to improve societal perceptions of convicts and improve the communication skills of prisoners.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=Biblioteca vivente Bollate - Non sprecare |url=https://www.nonsprecare.it/biblioteca-vivente-bollate?refresh_cens |access-date=2024-11-20 |website= nonsprecare.it |language=it}}

The "In Prison Against Gender Violence" project is a social-educational initiative. It was launched by professionals from the prison's internal SerT team and is officially supported by the Lombardy Region's Parity Council. This three-month program was designed to prepare inmates for their reintegration into society by providing an educational experience focused on preventing gender-based violence.{{Cite journal |last=Bovetto |first=Giulia |date=2018-03-03 |title="In carcere controla violenza di genere": una ricerca empirica nel carcere di Bollate |url=https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/SED/article/view/11445 |journal=Società e diritti |language=it |volume=3 |issue=5 |pages=20–58 |doi=10.13130/2531-6710/11445 |issn=2531-6710}}

The following books have been published on the rehabilitation-focused model of Bollate Prison:

The book Diritti e Castighi: Storie di Umanità Cancellata in Carcere (Rights and Punishments: Stories of Humanity Cancelled in Prison),{{Cite book |last1=Castellano |first1=Lucia |title=Diritti e castighi. Storie di umanità cancellata in carcere |last2=Stasio |first2=Donatella |date=16 July 2009 |publisher=Il Saggiatore |isbn=978-8842815853 |language=Italian |trans-title=Rights and Punishments. Stories of humanity cancelled in prison.}} was written by the former Bollate Prison's director, Lucia Castellano, and a journalist for the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore Donatella Stasio. Published in 2009, the book shares the personal perspectives and experiences of inmates, educators, prison officers, volunteers and families. It also discusses those who have managed to rebuild their lives after prison.{{Cite web |last=Bove |first=Luisa |date=10 June 2009 |title=In un libro storie di umanità cancellata |url=https://www.chiesadimilano.it/news/milano-lombardia/milano-lombardiamilano-anno-2009/in-un-libro-storie-di-umanit-cancellata-48958.html |website=Chiesa di Milano: il portale della diocesi ambrosiana}}The authors highlight the “system” of prisons that often prevents or fails to restore dignity to inmates and address their rehabilitation.{{Cite news |date=13 July 2009 |title=Storie di umanità cancellata nelle carceri italiane |url=https://www.redattoresociale.it/article/notiziario/storie_di_umanita_cancellata_nelle_carceri_italiane |work=Redattore Sociale}}

File:Logo1pugnichiusi.jpgThe Pugni Chiusi (Closed Fists) project, started as a boxing program for the detainees. It was launched at Bollate Prison in 2016 by Mirko Chiari, a volunteer at the prison. Chiari, who had been in prison when he was 19, was inspired by a conversation with a drug trafficker to leave a life of crime and pursue boxing. His experience with the sport led him to return to Bollate in 2016 as a volunteer, using boxing to promote values including discipline and self-improvement among inmates.

The project was expanded into a book called Per Essere Chiari (To Be Clear), written by Antiniska Pozzi. The project received recognition including a special mention at the 14th Canon Prize for sports photography.{{cite news |last1=Rampini |first1=Roberta |date=26 May 2021 |title=Pugilato in carcere a Bollate: un libro sul progetto "Pugni chiusi" |url=https://www.ilgiorno.it/milano/cultura/pugilato-carcere-bollate-c9f48509?live |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=Il Giorno |publisher=Il Giorno |language=it}}

The book Senza Sbarre: Storia di un Carcere Aperto (Without Bars) by Cosima Buccoliero, published by Einaudi in 2022, tells the story of the author's experience as the director of Bollate Prison. Buccoliero explores the possibility of a more humane prison system, where detention is not merely a punishment but a path toward rehabilitation and social reintegration. The prison is described as a complex microcosm, inhabited by inmates, correctional staff, volunteers, and families. Buccoliero places emphasis on the importance of providing tangible opportunities for personal growth, such as education programs, work, and training activities. She highlights the role of these initiatives in preventing recidivism and facilitating the reintegration of prisoners into society. A central theme of the book is the approach taken toward life-sentenced prisoners. The author writes about decisions, such as the assignment of single rooms, that preserve respect and provide a sense of purpose for those condemned to life imprisonment. Buccoliero criticises the 'Life Imprisonment without Parole', considering it an inhumane penalty that deprives inmates of any possibility of redemption.{{Cite web |title=Senza sbarre, Cosima Buccoliero, Serena Uccello. Giulio Einaudi editore - Passaggi Einaudi |url=https://www.einaudi.it/catalogo-libri/problemi-contemporanei/senza-sbarre-cosima-buccoliero-9788806252793/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Einaudi |language=it-IT}}

Che sapore hanno i muri (What flavour do walls have?) is writen by Paolo Aleotti, a journalist working for RAI and published in 2023. It explores a "new perspective on prison, where understanding that one is dealing with a person rather than just a crime allows for a more grounded view".{{Cite book |last=Aleotti |first=Paolo |title=Che sapore hanno i muri |date=16 November 2023 |publisher=CasaSirio |isbn=978-8899032630 |trans-title=What flavour do walls have}} At the initiative of the Antigone Association, the author visited Bollate Prison and after overcoming some initial reluctance from inmates, for three months observed life inside the prison{{cite episode |title=Paolo Aleotti: "Da giornalista a volontario, il mio impegno in carcere" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTCdQkXpkhY&t=3s |series=Di buon mattino |network=TV 2000 |date=1 March 2024}} The book follows Paolo Aleotti's experience within the prison, through the art of making radio and TV.{{Cite web |title=Presentazione volume: Che sapore hanno i muri, Paolo Aleotti |date=26 September 2024 |url=https://www.sp.unipi.it/it/presentazione-volume-che-sapore-hanno-i-muri-paolo-aleotti/}}{{Cite news |last=Argondizzo |first=Alessandra |date=14 May 2024 |title="Che sapore hanno i muri": presentazione del libro di Paolo Aleotti sul contesto carcerario |url=https://www.bandieragialla.it/eventi/che-sapore-hanno-i-muri-presentazione-del-libro-di-paolo-aleotti-sul-contesto-carcerario/}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Benvenuti In Galera

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| director = Michele Rho

| producer =

| writer = Michele Rho

| starring = Silvia (a female inmate), Davide (a prison chef who continued working there even after serving his sentence), Domingo (who became a pastry chef), Said (who founded a cleaning company), and other detainees

| music = Dario Moroldo

| cinematography = Patrizio Saccò

| editing =

| studio =

| distributor =

| released = 2023–2024

| runtime = 73 minutes

| country = Italy

| language = Italian

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Benvenuti in Galera is a documentary film that tells the story of the In Galera prison restaurant as the first restaurant ever established within a prison. The film explores themes of personal transformation and the potential for redemption, illustrating how individuals can overcome past mistakes and rebuild their lives after incarceration.

The documentary provides an insight into the lives of the detainees, challenging stereotypes that often depict prisoners as irredeemable. Through the initiative of the prison's restaurant, inmates are offered the opportunity to develop new skills, gain a sense of purpose, and reintegrate into society. The film highlights the commitment of the inmates working in the kitchen, showing their determination to improve and contribute positively to the prison environment. The film also emphasises the importance of second chances and the role that rehabilitation programs can play in helping individuals reintegrate after serving their sentences.{{Cite news |title=Benvenuti in galera - 2024 - documentari - film & docu |url=https://www.repubblica.it/il-gusto/2024/02/03/video/benvenuti_in_galera_il_docufilm_sul_primo_ristorante_al_mondo_aperto_dentro_un_carcere_-_trailer-423340578/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=La Repubblica |language=it}}

The documentary film JAIL Ovvero come Mantenere Vivi i Sogni (JAIL: How to Keep Dreams Alive) was filmed in Bollate Prison. It covered themes such as suffering, solitude, time, curiosity and new possibilities.{{Cite news |date=14 February 2017 |title=CineInCittà - "Jail, ovvero come mantenere vivi i sogni" |url=https://www.leccotoday.it/eventi/cineincitta-jail-ovvero-come-mantenere-vivi-i-sogni.html}}

On May 8, 2024, a concert took place at the prison, featuring the Italian rappers Lazza, Jack the Smoker, Nitro, and Damianito, along with the inmates from the prison. The event provided the detainees with the opportunity to perform their own unreleased songs in front of a jury composed by the rappers.

This initiative aimed to equip prisoners with the tools to explore their musical interests while also offering workshops on the music industry to deepen their understanding of the sector.

The project was organised by E Ventures, Me Next, Next Show, Neverest, and Cooperativa Articolo 3.{{cite news |last1=Liguori |first1=Arnaldo |date=14 May 2024 |title=Lazza in concerto con i detenuti del carcere di Bollate: l'iniziativa insieme a Jack the Smoker, Nitro e Damianito |url=https://www.ilgiorno.it/milano/cultura/lazza-concerto-detenuti-bollate-srlaj4fx?live |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=Il Giorno |language=it}}

A number of notable inmates have been incarcerated in Bollate Prison:

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |last1=Caporali |first1=Nazareno |title=La categorizzazione sociale e la formazione dei pregiudizi: l'esempio del carcere di bollate |url=https://axiahrm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tesi-Nazareno.pdf |access-date=11 November 2024 |publisher=Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca |language=it|trans-title=Social categorization and the formation of prejudices: the example of Bollate prison}}

}}

• [https://www.carcerebollate.com/ Official website of Bollate Prison]
• [https://www.cartebollate.com/ Carte Bollate prison newspaper website]
• [https://www.ingalera.it/ InGalera prison restaurant website]
• [https://www.giustizia.it/giustizia/it/homepage.page/ Ministry of Justice (Italy)]
• [https://european-union.europa.eu/institutions-law-budget/institutions-and-bodies/search-all-eu-institutions-and-bodies/court-justice-european-union-cjeu_en/ Court of Justice of the European Union]
• [https://www.echr.coe.int/ European Court of Human Rights]

• Bollate City
• World Prison Brief
• Habeas Corpus
• Italian Judiciary
• Italian Red Cross
• {{annotated link|HM Prison Ford}}
• {{annotated link|HM Prison Castle Huntly}}

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